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Thursday, 28 November 2013

Elegant Kate In Black Temperley London Dress For SportsBall

The Duchess of Cambridge stepped out in London tonight to attend the glamorous SportsBall, the annual gala dinner of her patronage SportsAid.

The radiant Duchess was greeted by a large number of photographers and journalists who had waited for hours to catch a glimpse of the event's guest of honour.

Kate greeted Olympians at the entrance to the venue.

The black-tie event, sponsored by Tiffany & Co. and Laurent-Perrier Champagne was held at a luxurious pop-up venue, Supernova, in Embankment Gardens. Madhen, the band who provided tonight's musical entertainment shared a photo via Twitter. I think you'll agree, it looks fabulous.

Madhen Twitter Feed

The annual fundraising event was a star-studded evening of sports entertainment with a VIP guest list including Olympic and Paralympic legends Ade Adepitan, Anna Hemmings, Anna Watkins, Danny Crates and David Florence, to name a few. This year's ball focused on the 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi, with a look further ahead to Rio in 2016. Also in attendance were Sam Branson and his wife Isabella, sister of Prince Harry's girlfriend Cressida Bonas.

SportsAid supports and celebrates aspiring British athletes and helps sportsmen and women achieve their ambitions by giving them cash awards during the defining early years of their careers. The athletes, who are typically aged 12 to 18 are thought to be the brightest hopes for the country's future Olympic and Paralympic success.

Kate became patron of the charity in April and attended an Athletes Workshop to learn more about the organisation in October.

Kate and guests enjoyed a three course meal of chicken and cranberry wellington, slow roasted shoulder of lamb and chocolate pudding before playing games.

Jaguar Academy of Sport Twitter Feed

The Duchess enjoyed chatting with the athletes.

PA

Kate spoke with Olympic gold-medallist rower Anna Watkins who is also a new mum. More from the Express Story:

'Anna said: "I've met Kate before during the Olympics, she's lovely and so interested and supportive of athletes. She asked me what I've been up to since the Olympics and I said 'Well actually I've had a baby. I had a son, William, two months ago'. Kate said congratulations and said 'Will you go back to rowing?' I told her I have no current plans but I'm not ruling it out.'

The Duchess announced the winner of the prestigious One-To-Watch Award and presented it to the delighted winner Amber Hill.

'Recognising young sports people who show through their performance, sacrifices, commitment and attitude that they have great potential for the future, the One-To-Watch Award will this year be chosen from more than 1,300 talented sportsmen and women from across the UK who have been supported by SportsAid in 2013.'

It was hoped Kate might follow in William's footsteps and show off her vocal talents at the ball :) Royal correspondent Rebecca English notes the Duchess can certainly pull off a tune:

Rebecca English Twitter Feed

For a black tie ball we had expected to see Kate in a dazzling floor-length gown. Instead the Duchess chose a simple little black dress by Temperley London. It is undoubtedly a beautiful dress, very pretty and understated yet it encompasses the timeless elegance we have come to expect from Alice Temperley designs.

Temperley London

The Temperley London Templeton dress originally retailed for £450 before going on sale and selling out. It is described as:

'Inspired by Renaissance stained glass, it is made of a taffeta style fabric and has a plain body with a detailed neck yoke, sleeve and skirt finished with a feminine scallop. Demure and slightly Audrey Hepburn in feel, it has a nipped in waist, slight exaggerated shoulders and full skirt.'

A closer look at the garment.

Temperley London

A look at the back of Kate's dress.

In this photo we also see Kate's hair looks darker than we've seen recently. Darker hair has always suited her colouring much better and this shade looks lovely, very rich and vibrant.

Kate teamed the dress with her black suede Jimmy Choo Cosmic Pumps. They have served Kate very well on a number of occasions and they worked perfectly with tonight's look. They're available in black and nude patent for €542 at Nordstrom.

Jimmy Choo

Kate carried her red Alexander McQueen clutch which added a splash of colour to the ensemble. She accessorised with her Art Deco bracelet and matching diamond earrings, which were a wedding gift from Prince Charles.

Finally, J. Crew has landed in Britain and who better to sport the brand's designs than William and Kate? I love this mock-up, what a fun concept :)

Thank you for the fast and great post, Charlotte!As we know Kate is a very sporty person, so this is certainly a cause very close to her heart. It's very important to motivate young people to excel in sports and represent their Country. I agree with you, Kate looks way better with her hair in a darker shade. It looks very healthy and glossy now! I just wish her hairstylist could do a better blow out. She used to had THE most amazing blow outs EVER!The dress is not a favourite of mine, but she looked gorgeous as always! I had a feeling she would wear Temperley today!Thank you again, Charlotte!And Happy Thanksgiving to our American friends!Hugs :)

And she's back, looking lovely as ever!!!! I really like this dress and think it looks great on her. But I'm especially happy to see how lovely her hair looks, it seems as though she's had a little trim and color. I also like the red clutch, such a great bit of color in an otherwise all black outfit, she accessories so well.

Love the dress, though I'm a bit surprised she chose cocktail length, though I saw some pictures the other day of a London ball, where they all had day length dresses.Agree about the colour of her hair and it seems to me she might have had some cut off and I have always loved it loose.Note that one of the designer's pictures of the gown has a silver brooch (or perhaps it's a buckle). Made me think a nice brooch would have looked great at her waist.Anyway she looks lovely and very elegant.

bluhare, I'll make a fresh pot! :) And please do post that link for the recipe.

Kate's sparkle is back and it looks like she had a few inches cut off if you compare today's pictures with the one from the Athletes Workshop in October. The color is nice and the shorter length gives her a lift.

I love the red clutch. Nice touch! And I want to like the dress, but I am not a fan to be honest. I think it's a combination of the sleeve length and the stiffer look of the fabric. It doesn't appear to have a nice flow. Her black lace gown left me with the same impression.

Agree on both counts on her hair and clutch. I love a touch of red with an all black outfit, and that's nice without being too much. I really like the new hair colour as well, and am very glad she's trimmed her hair. Looks like it could be as much as 6 inches? Much nicer looking, in my opinion.

I can't find a link for the recipe. I'll type it up and send it to Charlotte and ask she pass it on to you. Charlotte, I hope that's OK. I've had it for years and it's a huge crowd pleaser. It's white chocolate, crème de cassis and cream for the filling, with a shortbready tart crust that you brush melted milk chocolate over before you put the filling in. People tend to like it a lot. :)

I agree with you totally royalfan...I want to like the dress, but no. It's not my favourite!!! Thought she could have looked a lot nicer in a full length evening dress, but looks like she summed up the feel of the occasion perfectly with her choice of Temperley...😊

And oddly enough, I was thinking the dress looks like something a young girl would wear to a first dance, and the hair as if she couldn't pay for the dress and the haircut at the same time, neither for a mature woman! Funny how we all look at the same pics and see something different. I do think, though she needs to learn to wear her hair off her face at public appearances -it's rude to all those who wait for hours to catch a glimpse of their princess, to only see a swish of hair, maybe.

Beautiful hair ! I also love the clutch and the smile :) Wish we could see the ear-rings.Like some others here, I'm not so sure of the dress, though, but that is my personal taste. I think I might guess why she didn't attend the Winter ball the other night. Knowing she had this evening out, maybe she didn't want two glamourous events too close to one another. Probably because she didn't want to leave her baby twice in a couple of days, but also because people would have criticized her for it.Good decision, I think !!!

Black tie doe NOT mean long dress - certainly in the UK. Evening trousers, cocktail length or full length frocks are acceptable. I think she'll be going home after the presentations. That's when the disco will start (it isnt really a "ball")

According to REbecca English the dress looks lovely "live" and perhaps does not photograph well. As a journalist who is rarely positive about anything, this grabbed my attention.

It is a lovely dress but needs "something" to lift it - perhaps a glittery flower at the waist which would not be hidden by the hair.

The diamond bracelet is lovely - got asked today what I wanted for Christmas .. mmmmm???

"Black tie" does not require a long dress for ladies. It's a mistake to think that it does. I might point out that Amber Hill did not wear a long dress, and I can assure you that other women wore shorter dresses.

Sure - perhaps a long dress wouldn't be necessary, but the dress length isn't the only thing that makes it look informal... just the dress in general looks like I could wear it to work or for a Saturday day event. It doesn't look like an evening look.

Pauline, I actually think the reviews have been pretty fair and mixed. Even people who haven't cared for the dress had positive things to say about her hair. The opinions have ranged from the dress looking frumpy and old to it looking like something a young girl would wear. And personally, I can see the arguments for both.

IMO, sometimes Kate plays it *too* safe. I understand that she may not want to be seen as a clothes horse or inspire the sort of reactions Diana got from her in-laws, but there are times when I would love to see her take it up a notch...perhaps with an updo and dangling earrings or retiring the brown Orla Kiely print dress.

I do like the dress, a lot, but it is more suitable for an older woman. That sleeve length is not terribly flattering to the Middleton ladies, in my opinion. Dislike it on Pippa as well. I think it's because they both have quite muscular forearms, it's just awkward looking. Kate looks very dressed down for the event, it's a cocktail frock. Her hair is back on track though, shining and gorgeous. Darker is more flattering to her complexion.

I don't like the dress. Sadly it makes Kate look too frumpy and she's definitely not. I wonder why she didn't wear a beautiful floor length gown it would have looked much nicer. Her hair is a major improvement though. It looks great. Just don't like the dress. Kate been really off her mark with outfits recently, it will be a gorgeous outfit but just wrong for the occasion.

I don't hate the dress, it's O.K., but could use a bit of "bling" at the waist, perhaps. Something sparkly. The length is perfect. Her hair looks wonderful. Definitely some new color and I think a trim as well. Looking good, Kate!

thank you for this beautiful post. Catherine looks gorgeous. I love the colour she dyed her hair. I also think she has had a trim which does wonders for her. Do you think she has had a haircut or are my eyes deceiving me?

Lovely post and if you and others are celebrating thanksgiving, have a very happy one from your Canadian friend.

Great here we go with someone calling everyone that does not like the dress a "hater" Fact. You can not like a dress but still like the person. No one is "hating" on Kate. We're all stating our opinion on this lovely blog like Charlotte has allowed us to.

The dress might not be what I had expected, but it was lovely. Compared with the other ladies at the event, she looked very appropriate. On the positive side, her hair was perfect. I'm seriously jealous of her lovely locks.

As we know Kate looks good in anything, even in this ensemble. Maybe customs are different elsewhere, but I know black tie means wear a long dress. But it seems like some of the other people there were wearing a short dresses so that's fine. However, this dress is really not for her at all - way too simple for the gala and it looks like something an older lady would wear. And the red clutch with it was terrible. Her hair looks great though, as always! It's much better darker.

No, "black tie" does NOT invariably mean a long dress. That's a misconception on the part of people who don't go to many black tie events, if any at all. At many black tie events, a short dress is entirely appropriate. You have to know what you are doing -- you have to be experienced -- to decide what to wear to this or that black tie event.

Finally a dress on her that is longer, to the knee and not half way up her thighs! I agree her hair looks better - also think it looks like she took went darker (maybe better to cover the gray?). Also looks like she took off a few inches and maybe it's a tapered cut so the bottom does not look so bulky as it has been looking. I like the shorter dress length for an affair like this and much more chance she will wear this dress again - it even could be worn daytime.

On the official Temperley website the dress is styled to look edgy and modern. Kate went with safe, (perhaps understandable but since it was a black-tie event, she really didn't have to) and ended up making it boring . The dress just calls for a great belt or shoes, but none of that is happening here. She looks like she just came back from an office party.

I was going to comment on the cocktail length but looking at photos, it seems many of the other guests chose cocktail length dresses too, so not a big deal and not out of place. I liked the dress and shoes, the only comment I'd make is the dress looked a bit summery for some reason but it worked for this event and worked well with the pumps. I think in a situation like this, the idea is to blend and not overshadow the athletes or the organization or the event itself and she pulled that off magnificently tonight. I don't want her to look dowdy but I LOVE the knee-length hem. It's proper and classy and still shows off her legs. Some have mentioned they think the dress needed something, I'd disagree. There's a lot going on with this dress already and to add a glitzy belt or other accessory would have been too much. Glad to see she's spruced her hair up with a trim and color. She looks far less tense, tired and, frankly, unhappy and nervous, than she has the last few months. Maybe she's finally starting to forge her own path, as William mentioned in the engagement interview. Thanks for the quick posting and wonderful information!!

This dress was very pretty but for me as well did not seem to fit the occasion. It had a casual feeling, mainly maybe because of how it was accessorized. It looked more formal on the model. I also would like to know if the lining was changed by Kate or the photo wasn't updated from runway to commercial edit. The nude lining on the bottom with the corseted look lining on the top gave a slight pants-less effect. Kate looked great. That is an awesome hair treatment she gets. I would like to know what else she does besides color because her hair texture is completely different. Although this is a very pretty look when compared with the photos of Taylor Swift last night at Kensington we just saw and how extremely glamourous of a look she completely owned at such a young age, this lands flat. This outfit is trademark duchess though. I like it but not for this event. It needs more 'royal' injection for the night time! That red random clutch at Christmas time is more of a big irritation than it brings a punch of color.

Ms. Swift looked what she is---a professional entertainer.Catherine looked what she is--a Princess/Royal Duchess.I would not expect the same type of dress from two such different people, though they both looked elegant

I believe either dress works for a princess or an entertainer, and would look elegant on either. Now the short mini skirts are entertainer material but today Cathernine wore a dress that was length appropriate, but boring. YOu can have a knee length stylish dress and now that she has the length right perhaps next time she will get style right

Kate is a beautiful lady and very classy but us seems that her smile is less genuine and more forced lately. She just wants to be home with her family. Although in sure she is passionate about charity...i feel she just wants to be a good wife and mother. Its the nitpicking that made princess Diana as nervous wreck....kate does her job flawlessly

I thought both Taylor and Kate looked good. For those snarking about Taylor Swift, I at first thought that Taylor's Winter Whites dress was a white version of the teal Jenny Packham Kate wore in May 2012 at the Olympic gala event. The two gowns look very similar. I'm sure she does want to be a good wife and mother. However, she knew going into this relationship, engagement and marriage that her life would also be one of duty and service. And she knew that almost a decade ago. I'm not arguing with anyone, just pointing out a fact. Kate looked appropriate and polished for the event she attended, Taylor Swift looked appropriate and polished for the event she attended.

I love her new hair colour, so much about not dying while breastfeeding:-) I still do not get it why she needs this blanket around her face and not having any kind of updo. She would look like more professional.

As far as the dress is concerned I love this material, but that's all about it. This is a miss for me.

Well, I was a bit confused as well, I must admit, as I knew "Black tie" as having to wear a long evening dress. I checked on the German homepage of "Style Book" and I read in an article from November 7th 2013 (so VERY recent) that long OR short evening gowns are allowed - so Kate´s choice of dress length was absolutely appropriate for the occasion.... I must admit, though, that I was a little bit "disappointed" as well, as I had expected her to wear another stunning floor length gown (like the green one she wore at last year´s "Sports award" event). The dress itself would have been a real stunner if it had been floor length - with knee length it does look a little bit boring and I agree, more "suitable" for older women.... When I look at it I immediately start looking for something "sparkling" like a chain or a belt or maybe the shoes..... Never mind, it was her choice and that´s it. I´m looking forward to the next occasion, maybe the "Mandela"-premiere will give us "ball-gown-lovers" ;-))))) something to "celebrate" and relish!!! Thanks for the post and lots of love from Germany, Eve

The dress may not be my favorite that Kate has ever worn but it's growing on me. The length is perfect on her; age and professional suitability aside, that length is just the most flattering on her. Makes her look lovely and slim. After a few iffy times, her hair now looks fabulous too. She has such gorgeous hair, we want to see it looking wonderful.

Think a LBD is perfect for a black tie occasion like this. Most likely she is saving a long one (new, we hope) for the film premier.

So sorry she missed the Winter ball though. Not a particular fan of Taylor Swift but she looked beautiful in that gown. Something similiar, even with a bit of a daring neckline, would be perfect for Kate and it would have been fun to see her with William who was clearly having a blast.

Maybe I'm the only one with this opinion, but... I'd rather prefer Kate's hair styled just like when she attended that race to say goodbye to Anglesey! :) Longer and lighter and with big waves. But, that's life, you can't please everybody :) Regarding the dress: well... it's really boring and ageing, she could have done much better. But, I'm loving the red clutch's pop of colour! Most important of all: Kate looks wonderful and happy, and she is doing a great job. Hugs, have a nice weekend!Z. from Portugal

chic dress, opportune length (other ladies are wearing short dresses), it's better in this simple way, without glittering trick at the waist. I don't understand why a lot of people always criticizes her gown length, too much, too little, too… I think today she is perfect.

The lightest I think I've seen Kate's hair was when she and William attended the Anglesey race, shortly before they left Anglesey. I must admit, I thought it looked quite pretty lighter, although it was a tad long and the darker roots were showing. Kate's hair looked the most dark in shade at her wedding. However, it appeared to be a lighter shade at the after-wedding party.

I believe we will see Kate up the amperage in her dress when she is Princess of Wales. In the meantime, I expect she will be dressing fairly conservatively. Oh. Also,I notice low key the Spanish monarchy dresses, so if the economy picks up, Kate would be able to wear more luxury, I think.

It's strange because the guests at the event are young and the vibe is obviously youthful; for that type of event, the dress is probably more suitable than a long gown. Maybe Kate needed to wear her hair up to give the look a little more pizzazz.

The red clutch is really pretty but it's not enough to give this the boost it needs and it looks somewhat out of place because there isn't enough to tie it to the rest of the outfit.

Thank you so much for commenting. A royal reporter at the event mentioned the dress was really quite beautiful in person but photographed terribly. It didn't do the dress justice at all in her opinion.

The photographers hated the dress as they were hoping for a vibrant gown which would prove very popular with newspaper editors!

If those complaining about the dress length had ever tried climbing stairs onto a stage in a floor-length gown, possibly holding the award in one hand, they would understand why a knee length dress is appropriate for an award-presenter.

Lets be realistic..constructive discussion is good and it is what comment sections are for....but seriously?! Kate looked amazing. So glad William chose what appears to be a genuinely nice lady to be his wife and not some stuffy, snotty self entitled little twit. Her understatement is soooo refreshing.

Talking about Kate hair being lighter in her Anglesey appearance, people forget her hair gets ssunbleached easily.

Baby George wss born during a heatwave and she did spend sometime in Bucklebury where she has a pool. Also she tans easily, so her face and hair colour can change in the summer day and evening. Anddon't forget she is a new mother. I'm sure some you can remember what it was like the first time having a baby and how the world suddenly became different. Only with kate its much bigger.

The dress is fine just the length shouldve been long. Like the green dress she wore to the bbc sports awards last year. Also her should have been swept back off her face. When she looked down to speak to Tanni-Grey the paralympian in the wheel-chair her hair was cascading over her face and as usual kate was forever flicking it back behind her ears....sigh.

I truly believe it is a confidence thing. I don't think she feels beautiful with her hair tied back.

KENSINGTON PALACE: The Duke of Cambridge this evening attended a Dinner for the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre at Buckingham Palace.

The Duchess of Cambridge, Patron, SportsAid, this evening attended a Dinner at Supernova, Embankment Gardens, London WC2.

Both the duke and the duchess were out supporting their own projects. It seems to me that Kate's appearance was entirely appropriate for an evening dinner and sports award. I also think she had been paying attention to everyone's comments, or her mirror, in choosing her skirt length, hair color, and makeup. She looked rested and very elegant. My only changes would be to make her beautiful glossy hair just slightly lighter, and to take away the red clutch.

Interestingly, the Countess of Wessex showed up at a fashion event wearing an outfit very similar to the one with the "Marilyn moment" skirt that Kate wore a few days ago. Following fashion, or maybe supporting her niece in law? Sophie also looked very nice, in any case.

I agree about the .gif, it's fun. I loved the dress and but not the red bag, although it did give a bit of color interest to her ensemble. I like the idea some have had here of adding a bit of sparkle at the waist, but the dress is very pretty without it too. Charlotte, I'm glad you posted the comment of the reporter that the dress was better in person. I just loved the way the scalloped lace set off both the bodice and the skirt, and I thought the comparison to stained glass windows was a great inspiration for the overall design. Catherine looked beautiful and classy. Somebody said this dress length is the best one for her legs and I have to agree.

The problem with the dress is,for me, it's cut and styling. It has a boxy, plain-cut bodice, elbow length sleeves, and a skirt with lots of fabric seamed to the bodice at the waist. I had a dress of just this shape when I was in high school, and that was nearly 40 years ago! I can't figure out why Kate is so partial to this shape and style, when it is so dated and dowdy. She wears it all the time - think of the yellow dress in Canada that got caught in the wind. I much prefer her in something like the silk purple/white dress she wore in Singapore -such a sophisticated silhouette, and really showed off her slender figure. And it's time to get the hair up off the face.

I think the interview with Kate's former hairdresser, James Pryce, who was her hair stylist when her hair really looked its best ever, in my opinion, answered a lot of the color questions. Her hair had been looking a little rough due to the effects post-pregnancy on it and the fact she was breastfeeding and probably didn't want to color her hair. I would expect that now, with the baby at four months old, she may feel more comfortable coloring her hair even though she's likely still breastfeeding him. I don't know what the solution for this is but - I wish she would stop fiddling with her hair. It does seem as if she still isn't quite sure what to do with her hands (I think that's what the clutches seem to be for). It's just distracting and creates some monumentally unfortunate opportunities for bad photos, such as the Remembrance Day hair twirl. Maybe cut a few subtle layers in it around her face so it's not so heavy and falling forward around her fact? I still think the dress was nice and entirely appropriate for the occasion.

I think she was just playing it safe with this dress. Didn't want to "out glam" anyone else--and she didn't. Her hair looked great, but for evening, should have been pulled back. I think William likes her hair down so she wears it that way for him~

Wow I am loving her new hair color and the cut is great. Totally looks great and more shiny. I personally really like this dress a lot. Maybe a belt in black would have accented it better with a matching black bag and her hair pinned up. The dress appears to be a heavy fabric and very beautiful length. Not too short or too long. There were many ladies there wearing knee length lace dresses.

Yesterday, I saw a video of Kate arriving, it was on the "Mirror UK" homepage. When she got out of the car, someone (I presume it was one of the waiting photographers) shouted at the top of his lung "Oh BORING" - you could clearly hear his disappointment, obviously about the dress. I thought "You must be pretty strong not to be influenced by this kind of reaction to your appearance EVERY time you go to an official engagement". I mean, we comment here as well, but the Duchess can CHOOSE whether she reads comments about her or not. But things like that? I thought that to be REALLY rude.... Eve from Germany

That's incredibly rude of the photographers or onlookers! I would think she must just dread getting dressed, knowing that she won't please everyone, and that people think it's OK to publicly comment on her appearance. No wonder Diana broke down. I would want to just run and hide if I had to face that.She did look beautiful in this dress, even if I personally didn't care for the dress. She always looks beautiful!

Just wondering: Would the photographers be so disrespectful when she is accompagnied by Prince William? I doubt these cowards would use such terms in his presence. Here is a young woman who has just given an heir to the Crown and who now finds herself deliberately put down by those cowards. And it has all started with the famous photo Mr Middleton took of his grandson. Food for thought!

Oh, yes, hands of motherhood. Until I read your comment, royalfan, I'd forgotten the ravages of multiple hand/bottle washings each day! I also have never seen Catherine with painted nails… well, maybe a nude or very light color.Victoria, Oregon

Ref. the comment under Admin that the photographers hated the dress. On a video on Mirror on line when Kate arrived you could hear comments from the press saying "boring" as she alighted from the car and as far as I am aware only one paper The Telegraph had a photo on their front page the next day I think that shows that most of the press are only really interested in what she wears which is a pity. Judging from the fashion critics who all seemed to approve of it the dress seems was much nicer than it appears in photographs. Interestingly the event was well covered by most of the papers on - line editions which is good for the Charity involved and Kate looked relaxed and in great form as in her previous solo visit. She has appeared far more relaxed and happy when on both these visits than the one's with William. Clearly she was tired when greeting the poppy sellers in Kensington and although both appeared O.K. it was very noticeable that there was no eye contact between them throughout the visit both on the bus and at the station even when standing together talking to the poppy sellers. On the other Charity visit she appeared rather tense and once again they barely looked at each other and sadly there was not the rapport as in the past.I am disappointed to see that she is not accompanying William to either the Medal Ceremony an event she normally attends with him or the Military Tattooan event she was to have attended last year when she was taken ill I find it hard to believe that Prince George is the reason as she now seems to be back to full fitness. I hope all is well between her and William.I hope Kate wears something stunning with her hair in a half up do for the film Premier and no doubt the press hope the same!!

If she heard them say "boring", then I hope she recycles next time. LOL.

I'm not reading anything into solo engagements vs. joint. It's the way the royals have done it for decades. I also think it's natural for each of them to be more outgoing if they are doing a solo engagement because they have that much more to "carry" on their own. When they're together, I think Kate acts as supportive spouse and has him take the lead. Again, nothing so out of the ordinary.

@Anonymous I think your comment regarding Kate & William's relationship is not but trying to start something. These pictures are just a second in a entire day.Kate's job is to support William and the first thing she wants to do is take the spot light away from William. But the medie will always focus on her no matter who & where she is. And that is not her fault.

Relationship analysis is the core of a lot of gossip, and the poster did give her reasons for thinking as she does. I don't know if they're going through a rough patch or not, but if they are they aren't any different than a lot of married couples. I do know William does spend a lot more time away than is reported; however, that may have been the case from Day 1. I'm certainly not ready to speculate their marriage is in trouble.

I know that I've commented on this particular blog a few times....i just can't stand when people assume that Kate and Williams relationship is trouble from a few pictures. I am American and even I know that poppy day is a very solemn and respectful day for England...at least this is what my British brother in law tells me. I don't believe it would be appropriate for William or Kate to be laughing it up with each other on such a serious and important day for England. I think they gaged the mood quite appropriately

So, I've been thinking about all the time it takes to look perfect, or at least "put together" or glamorous, for the cameras that are always on Kate…. since to many people it is her job to look that way.

An event that we see as taking 2 or 3 hours would actually have so much more time put into it, just on the clothing/hair/makeup side. Not to mention picking out the clothes beforehand. I mean, the night of something like this, it's not like she only needs an hour to get ready. I wonder how long it takes to be professionally groomed at this level. So, it's not like she is just putting in a couple of hours worth of work. An event like this is an all day thing, probably.

Does anyone have any insight into how long it would take to be groomed at this level for an event? I don't envy the pressure she is under to look perfect, although I do admit it would be fun to be pampered at a salon more often!Victoria, Oregon

Well I just read an article that Kate entered a new salon and was in there from midday (not sure of the time) to just before 6pm. To me that would be something like 4 to 6 hrs. And then people here like to say things about her hair, make up and so on. It takes alot of time for Kate to look beautiful for just a few hours.

Well, this article (from the DailyMail, so I can't vouch for accuracy) claims she spent 6 hours getting her hair done: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2516211/How-Kate-grey-hair-apparent-thanks-hour-trip-worlds-expensive-stylist.html. That appointment was probably a few days before the event, I would guess that getting ready for the actual event the day of probably took another 2-3 hours?

However, I'm definitely not one of the people who thinks the time Kate spends grooming, shopping, and getting her hair/makeup done should be counted in her "work hours" tally. I really do hope that the vast majority of people don't define her job as looking good! What if William had married a less attractive or overweight person? Would we say that his hypothetical wife was failing at her "job" because she wasn't good-looking or thin? I hope not! In my opinion, as long as Kate looks professional at events (i.e., not wearing too-short skirts or those skintight jeggings) then she's doing fine, appearance-wise. I couldn't care less if she has gray hair, or wrinkles, or a "boring" outfit. I'm guessing that the royal journalists would probably disagree ;-)

Kate may have been at the salon for a longer visit when she had her hair colored and cut but SIX hours? I think the DM is just doing what it does best. And I don't see the average engagement requiring more than a couple of hours to get ready (shower to makeup I mean.)

Kate hasn't given the press anything to write about except her clothes and her grooming. Consequently her write ups are skewered that way and now the public thinks of her as a clothes horse only.

It is easy to change public perception. Look at Harry. For years he was the party prince who was destined to be the next airmiles andy or worse. fast forward 3 years and now everybody loves Harry and even a Vegas incident can't dent his popularity and the public are completely on his side such that the media now writes about his work more than they write about his partying ways.

Another person who changed their image was Camilla. And she was coming from a position of extreme public hate. There are people who still don't care for her, but for the most part most people are neutral at best which is better than universal hate.

William had the cloak of Diana such that whatever he did was pretty much loved by the public. fast forward 3 years and the cloak has dropped off and people are at best neutral or don't view him favourably [ps don't believe those polls that call him the most loved royal. they are written in such a way to guarantee that outcome].

The point is, Kate can definitely change the public's perception of her and she chooses not to. So the public continues to think that her only purpose is to look good and produce an heir and spare. talk about making Hilary Mantel's words come true!!!

It's not what Kate "gives" them to write about but what the press chooses to write about. If they highlight close-ups of a couple of gray hairs or her fashion choices rather than writing about a charity or the significance of Remembrance Day, for example, that says more about the audience than it does about Kate. They write about the topics that will sell papers or generate clicks on the internet. I'm not sure how you can claim that it's all she has given them. Look at this blog as an example...Charlotte does an outstanding job of focusing on the charities and Kate's involvement but what does the discussion end up being about (and I'm just as guilty)...clothes, hair and makeup.

Judging a person's resume by what makes headlines is flawed at best. The charity reps she works with and the people associated with those charities are the ones who know what she does and the common thread seems to be that she really cares and wants to make a difference.

I also do not believe that the "majority" of the public sees her as a clothes horse. Why do I suspect that this is the same majority that complains about her recycling or refers to her wardrobe as too old and boring. :)

This may be a bit off topic...but for all those who say "Kate knew what she was getting into" when she married William probably don't understand that she made a huge number of sacrifices for him because of her love, loyalty and devotion to William. She is not an attention seeker...and I just get the feeling that every second of her day is planned for her. I would be absolutely terrified to go out in public. I mean god...the woman pushed out an almost nine pound baby and was standing in front of hundreds of photographers and the world less than 24 hours later. I just feel bad for...as if she's trapped

I'm not wild about the "she knew what she was getting into" either. It makes it sound like she's complaining or has regrets and I do not believe that is the case. And I totally agree with you, I think she has made sacrifices along the way because she loves William and she understood from day one that a life with him means having to cope with some very unique circumstances.

Kate had plenty of time to decide if royal life was not for her. I can't believe she didn't know what she was getting into; even William said he wanted to give her time for exactly that reason. So I think she knew what she was in for, and signed up for it. Whether she's having regrets now we'll never know.

What Katie needs to do first and foremost is tie the hair back..!!!! There's absolutely no excuse for her hair to keep falling over her face. She bends her head quite a lot sometimes to one side. She habitually strokes her hair off her face while in conversation.

Reluctantly I have to say she Imo is suffering from nerves. The clutch bag is something to hold onto rather than a fashion item. I kniw for sure she's had extensive etiquette and elecution training. It's extremley hard work to be a "lady". But Kate must've known the life the royal" she would face. My suggestion to her is be professional at all times. No matter whatever hardship she is battling always present yourself to your public and haters with grace dignity and style. Always lok a million dollars. Always be elegant dedpite being a new mum. U have so much help,....so use it u can juggle work baby and husband and even interest.

Kate must realise she will always be photographed. There's no need for nervous smililing snd constantly stroking the hair out of the face. Tie it up elegantly please and for God sake slow down iin public. Kate seems to rush everything. Slow down let the public take u in. They're lucky to see you duchess, not the other way around.

I really love our Catherine. I know a lot of people are wishing her bad luck. She has a lot of haters online I notice. It's no coincidence that one of her designated charities deals with cyber bullying. Good gor her. Kate is a modern girl and a modern princess. Dhe is not a celebrity. She is a monarch.

I think she's got social nerves as well. Can't say as I blame her; I wouldn't want to be under the microscope all the time but that's why I married Mr. bluhare instead of someone royal. (You know they were all after me . . . . LOL!!)

Thank You Charlotte!!I feel like ive returned to mankind after Thanksgiving and no internet at home. I dint quite like this dress Kate wore, it looks more like a frock rather than a cocktail dress. I saw the picture of James Middleton with his girlfriend, and she had worn a black evening cocktail dress with shimmer and a black coat with it. I think Kate could've worn something like that. Charlotte, is there a video to this event?Thanks chica for this fabulous post!!xoxo

Hey bluhare- The Pauline you have seen making comments is not me. I always put where I am from.So it is either anyother person by the same name or someone playing games with my name.I have sent Charlotte a note telling her about this issue. I hope it is another person by teh same name and not someone playing games with me because if that is the case they will feel the rathe of hell from me.

Hi everybody. When I first saw the pictures I hated this dress, but after watching the video on the DM website I think it looks much better when she's moving. Not one of my favorites, but appropriate. As for the hair it is very very beautiful, but it really looks boring and not elegant loose in front of her face. It covers her neck completely. A simple updo would be more appropriate and chic for many occasions. Charlotte from MA, USA.

Being away from the internet was a bit nerve racking this Thanksgiving Holiday, because I couldn't wait to read this post! But it was here waiting for me! I love how Kate's hair looks, although I've liked that she has worn it differently since becoming a mother to George. By the look of the kind of dresses being worn at the event, I think Kate tried to blend in gracefully instead of standing out. Her choice of wear is simple yet refreshing. And she does look more fresh faced! I guess this means some certain little one is getting more sleep?

In December,6 Kate will visit Shooting Star House Children’s Hospice in Hampton, Middlesex. The Duchess will tour the facilities, view a music therapy session and have tea with some of the children and their families.

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